Auxiliary alarm system.



C. B. BEACH. AUXILIARY ALARM SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1913.

mwfiw Patented Apr. 21, 1914 umrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE E: BEACH, OF BINGHAMTOE, NEW YQRK, AS IGNOB T0 GEORGE 0. KNAPP, or NEW You, H. Y.-

AUXILIARY ALARM SYSTEM.-

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE E.-BnAon, of Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York,- have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Auxiliary Alarm Systems, of which the follow.- ing is a specification.

My invention relates to auxiliary alarm circuits and particularly to an improved annunciator system to be used in connection with such circuits.

An auxiliary alarm circuit usually extends from a main line fire alarm box to a building or premises from which the operation of the fire alarm box is to be controlled in addition to the direct control in the ordinary manner. Such auxiliary circuits are provided with switch mechanisms suitably scattered about the building or premises to be protected, actuation of any one of said switch mechanisms causing response of the auxiliary circuit to efl ect starting of the fire alarm box. It is very desirable-to be able to ascertain at which switch mechanism the auxiliary circuit was controlled to cause sending of a fire alarm signal. For exam-v ple, the fire department answering the call would immediately be directed to the origin of the fire if indication could begiven at the entrance of the building or premises of what auxiliary station was pulled;

In the co-pending application of Clarence E. Beach and Herman W. Doughty, Serial No. 689,587, filed April 9, 1912, there is shown an auxiliary controlling circuit which is in the nature of a normally closed shortcircuit about the non-interference electromagnet which controls the running of the box, and the annunciator mechanism shown receives current flow from the auxiliary controlling circuit or from a local source of current. There are other auxiliary systems in which pulling of a box iscontrolled by an auxiliary electro-magnet provided in addi-' tibn to the non-interference electro-inagnet of the box, the auxiliary controlling circuit extending from the auxiliary electro-magnet to the various auxiliary stations. Such a system is disclosed in Patent 1,016,401, issued Fehruary 6, 1912, to Frederick- "W. Cole.

The general object of my invention is to provide an improved annunciator system which can be effectively utilized in connection with auxiliarv (imitrullino' circuits Specification, of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 30, 1913.

Patented Apr. 21', 1914. Serial No. 776,603.

whether such circuits be normally open, or normally closed or normally in some other electrical condition.

Another important object is to provide annunciator mechanism whose annunciator devices are adapted to be included in the main alarm circuit to receive energizing current flow therefrom.

Another object is to provide switch mechanism sets, each adapted upon actuation to change the electrical condition of the auxiliary controlling circuit so that starting of the box and operation of the main alarm circuit can follow, and at the same time to cause con nection in the main alarm circuit of the annunciator device associated with the actuated switch set.

In the accompanying set of drawings, I have diagrammatically illustrated various arrangements embodying the features of my invention and Figure 1 shows an arrangement in which the auxiliary controlling circuit is in the form of a normally closed short-circuit about the non-interference electro-magnet of the fire alarm box; Fig. 2

shows an arrangement in which the auxil- Referring to Fig. 1,1 have diagrammath cally illustrated various parts of the fire alarm box from which the auxiliary system extends. The non-interference electro-mag net 10 has the armature structure 11 which cooperates with detent lever 12 for controlling the pallet 13 of thesignaling train 14, which train controls the operation of the signal wheel 15. When the armature is retracted, the detent lever stops the train and when the armature is attracted, the detent lever is disengaged from the pallet and the train and signal wheel can operate. The signal wheel in rotating will eflect alternate opening and closure of the circuit controlling springs 16 and 17. As shown, shunt contacts 18 and 19 are also provided, which, before the box is pulled, are engaged by a shunt lever 20 and which are connected by remirlnotnrs )1 uml with Hm Twin-n net terminals. A pull lever 23 is provided and arranged so that on pulling of the box the shunt lever will be moved away from the shunt contacts 18 and 19 to open the shunt circuit 21 and 22. However, the auxiliary controlling circuit A is normally closed and will prevent energization of the electro-magnet even though the main shunt circuit 21, 22 is opened.

In practice, when the auxiliary control of the box is desired, the shunt lever 20 will be held away from-the shunt circuit terminals 18 and 19, so that starting of the box will be entirely under control of the auxiliary controlling circuit, and when this auxiliary circuit is closed, the box cannot be started, but as soon as thiscircuit is opened at any point the electro-magnet will be free to be energized to attract its armature to cause release of the signaling train. The main alarm circuit M extends from a central exchange where it includes signal receiving mechanism R and a source of current S, and at the various signaling boxes this circuit includes the non-interference electro-magnet and the signal controlling contacts. Each box becomes active to send the signal as soon as the controlling electromagnet has been released by the auxiliary controlling circuit and the train started.

At each of the various stations a, b, 0, throughout a building or premises from which the fire alarm box is to be controlled, switch mechanism is provided, each gwitch mechanism comprising two separate y insulated switch levers e and f, preferably connected for simultaneous operation, and cooperating with contacts 9 and h, respectively. The various switch arms f control the auxiliary controlling circuit A and normally engage their contacts to close this circuit. The various switch arms 6 are normally in engagement with their contacts 9 and serially included in the annunciator circuit T, which is in the form of a loop from the main alarm circuit M. Each switch arm 0 is bridged by a circuit includ-' ing an annunciator unit ea. As shown, the bridge annunciator circuit for the station a includes conductors i and j; the bridge circuit for station 6 includes conductors j and 7c, and the bridge circuit for station 0 includes conductors in and Z.

. Tracing out the operation of the system, suppose that at the signal box the shunt leverQO has been raised to open the electron'iagnet shunt circuit 21, 22 so that the box issot for auxiliary control;the various auxiliary switch mechanisms will be normally closed and the box electro-magnet will be deiinergized and the annunciator devices for all the auxiliary stationscwill be short-circnited. It, now, an alarm is to be sent t'rom one of the auxiliary stations, for example. station a, the switch mechanism at iliary switch has been opened and through the annunciator device for that station, and then through the signal receiving mechanism at the central station back to the battery, operating both the signal box and the annunciator device.

The annunciator mechanism may be of any well-known construction, as, for example, that in which, upon energization of an electro-magnet, a target or other indi cating device is released by an armature to assume an indicating position, and after once being released, such indicating mem= ber will remain in indicating position until re-set.

\Vhen the fire department arrives, it will ascertain from the annunciator mechanism that the alarm was sent from the auxiliary station a and it will thus be accurately directed to the origin of the fire. After the box has thus been controlled from the auxiliary station and has sent in its signal, the various mechanisms can be re-set for subsequent alarm purposes. After the auxiliary station switch has been restored, the actuated unit at the annunciator mechanism can be re-set and the various mechanisms at the signal box can again be so arranged that the box will again be under control of the auxiliary controlling circuit. It is understood, of course, that in the drawings only part of the box mechanism is illus trated, and that the box may contain suit able non-interference mechanisms, mechanisms for stopping the box after it has properly sent its signal, etc., all this being well understood in the art.

In Fig. 2, I have shown my improved annunciator system applied to auxiliary mechanism such as shown in the Cole patent referred to. I have shown only the non-interference electro-magnet 10, the signal wheel 15, and the signal contacts 16 and 17 of the box mechanism, and the auxiliary electro-niagnet E, the other parts of the box and the control thereof by the auxiliary eloctro-magnet being clearly shown in the patent referred to, the operation being such that when the auxiliary electro-inagnet is suitably energized, its armature structure will release auxiliary actuating mccllanisln which will then opcralctocausestartingoi the box signaling train. lnlapplying my annunciator system, the annunciator mechanism u and the main annunciato-r circuits are ar ranged the same as in Fig. 1, the annunciator mechanism being controlled by the switch, arms 6. The auxiliary controlling circuit A includes the auxiliary magnet E and a local source of current L,. and I have shown" switch arms f which are normally away from their contacts h and in engagement with contacts k, the switch arms f'being normally serially included in the limb-m of the auxiliary controllingcircuit, while the contacts hare all connected with the other limb n of the auxiliary circuit, so that when any switch arm f is moved ,into engagement with its contact h, the auxiliary controlling circuit will be adjusted to cause electro-magnet E to become elfectively' energized; ,At each my station a, b, 0, etc.,- the switch arms eand are preferably connected together for simutaneous operation. To-describe the operation,'suppose that an alarm is tobe sent from one of the auxiliary stations, say station a. The switch arms at this-"station are actuated: to move switch arm e from its con tact gand to move switch arm f into engagement'with its contact 72.. The auxiliary controlling circuit is then closed and the an nunciator'device u for station a is included in the annunciator circuit and the main alarm circuit. The signal box will be pulled as a result of operation of the electr0-magnet E and will send in its signals. If the signaling contacts 16 and 17 are normally closed as indicated, the annunciator device for station a will indicate immediately upon actuation of the switchmechanism. at station a.- After the signal hasbeen completed the actuated auxiliary station may be re-set to normal position to re-open the auxiliary controllingcircuit'a'nd to short-circuit the 'an-' nunciator mechanism, and the annunciator mechanism and the box may be gre-set.

In Fig, 3 the arrangement shown is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except that instead of. providing manual switch members for the auxiliary controlling circuit, such circuit is electro-mechanically controlled by the annunciator, devices. The annunciator mechanism electro-magnets, the annunciator short-circuits, and the main alarm circuit are arranged exactly as in Fig. 1. The indicating members of the annunciator devices 'cooperate with the armatures p of these devices to automatically control the auxiliary circuit, and as shown the indicating devices are normally held by their respective armatures and together with the armatures are normally included serially in the auxiliary circuit. To illustrate the operation, suppose that the-switch arm 6 at auxiliary station a.

is moved away from its contact g, the short circuit about the annunciator device to for stationa is opened and this device is enerthat after any annunciator device winding has been primarlly' mclu'ded in circuit to atberv is released to open the auxiliary controlling circuit, this contact spring Will engage its contact and the main alarm, circuit will flaw through the conductor 71, conductor 8, and contact-1", through the contact spring It attached to the released indicating member '0, 'the conductor j,.'the switches 12 and c, and through, the'si naling contacts and electromagnet'atthe' ox, thewinding of the actuated. annunciator device being thus shunted has been sent, the auxiliary switch mechanism, the corresponding annunciator devices, and the box mechanism may be re-set to be subsequently controlled by the auxiliary controlling circuit.

I do not, of'course, desire to be limited to the precise arrangement and operation here- 'in disclosed, as changes and modifications thescope, of my invention, and I therefore claim the following:

1. Ina fire alarm system, the combination of 'a main alarm circuit including a source alarm box having signaling contacts adapted for serial inclusion in said circuit, a signaling train forfcontrolling said contacts, an electro-magnet for controlling the startsaid electro-magnetextending from the box nunciator circuit in the form of a loop exeach station, switch mechanism at each sta tion normally closing the loop circuit and sl'iort-circuiting the annunciator devices and normally adjusting the auxiliary circuit to prevent operation of the electro-magnet at at any station causing inclusion in the main sociated with the said station and causing adjustment of the auxiliary circuit to allow operation of the electro-magnet to cause starting of the fire alarm box.

' 2. In a fire alarm signaling system, the

therefrom, these contacts being 'so connected tract its armature and'the indicating -mem of current and a translating device, a fire ing of said train, a controlling circuit for to a. plurality of auxiliary stations, an antending from the main circuit through the various stat-ions, an annunciator device for the box, actuation of the switch mechanism out of the alarm circuit. After an alarm are possible, which would still come within alarm circuit of the ,annunciator device 515* combination of a main alarm circuit, fire alarm signaling mechanism serially included indicator circuit, and switch mechanism at each station for controlling said auxiliary circuit and indicator circuit.

3. In a signaling system,.a,signaling cir cuit including a source of current, a translating device and signaling mechanism, an I auxiliary. controlling circuit for said signaling mechanism, a plurality of switches in said auxiliary cont-rolling circuit, a loo-p circuit included serially in circuit with said signaling mechanism, a plurality of switches in. saidloop circuit each associated with one of the switches in the auxiliary controlling circuit, and an annunciator device bridged about each of said loop circuit switches to be normally shunted t-hereby, actuation of any set of associated switches causing opening of the auxiliary controlling circuit to re lease the signaling mechanism and causing inclusion in the loop circuit of the associated annunciator device, whereby indication is given by the actuated annunciator device of the point at whichthe auxiliary circuit is opened.

- 4. Ina signalin system, the combination of a main signaling circuit including a source of current-, a translating device and signaling mechanism, an auxiliary controlling circuit extending t'rom said signaling mechanism as a shunt pat-h around said mechanism to normally cause said mechanism to be unaffected by the current flow from said source, a plurality of switches in said auxiliary circuit for controlling the continuity thereof, an annunciator circuitlooped serially in the main circuit with said signaling mechanism, a plurality of switches in said annunciator circuit, each of said switches being associated with one of the switches in said auxiliary circuit to form a switch set, an electrically controlled annunciator device associated with each of the annunciator circuit switches to be normally shunted thereby, actuation of any switch set causing opening of the auxiliary controlling circuit to release the signaling mechanism and at the same time causing inclusion in the annunciator circuit of the associated annurg ciator'device.

5. In a signaling system, the combination of a main circuit including a source of current, a translating device, and signaling mechanism, an auxiliary controlling circuit for said signaling mechanism extending therefrom as a normally closed short-circuit rality 0 path around said mechanism to prevent effective operation of said signaling mechanism, an annunciator circuit paralleling said auxiliary controlling circuit and extending as a loop from the main circuit and serially including the signaling mechanism, electrically controlled annunciator devices, and a plurality of switch mechanisms normally closing both said auxiliary controlling circuit and said annunciator circuit and each adapted, when actuated, to simultaneously open the auxiliary circuit and to operatively include one of the said annunciator devices in said annunciator circuit.

6. In a signaling system, the combination of a main circuit including a source of current, a translating device, and signaling mechanism, an auxiliary circuit for said mechanism extending therefrom as a normal shunt circuit about the signaling mechanism, a normally closed annunciator circuit in the form of a loop from the main line serially includin said signaling mechanism, a pluswitches in said annunciator circuit, an electro-magnetic annunciator device connected in bridge to each of said switches to be included in the annunciator circuit upon opening of the associated switch, and a switch eleetro-magnetically controlled by each annunciator device, such electromagnetic switches being normally serially included in said auxiliary controlling circuit whereby actuation of any annunciator circuit switch will cause inclusion in said circuitof the'associated annunciator device and therebyactuation of the corresponding switch in the auxiliary circuit to open saidauxiliary circuit to allow the signaling mechanism to become operative.

7 In a signaling system, the combination of a main circuit including a source of current, a translating device, and signaling mechanism, an auxiliary controlling circuit for said mechanism extending therefrom as a normally closed shunt circuit about the signaling mechanism, a normally closed annunciator circuit in the form of a loop' from the main line serially including said signaling mechanism, a plurality of switches in said annunciator circuit, an electro-magnetic annunciator device connected in bridge to "each of said switches to be included in the annunciator circuit upon opening of the associated switch, and a switch electro-magnetically controlled by each annunciator device, such electro-magnetic switches being normally serially included in said auxiliary controlling circuit whereby actuation of any annunciator switch will cause inclusion in said circuit of the associated annunciator device and thereby .actuation of the correspondin switch in the auxiliary circuit to open said auxiliary circuit to allow the signaling mechanism to become operative, and means controlled by each annunciator device for causing short-circuitin of said annunciator device immediately a ter inclusion thereof in the annunciator circuit. v

8. In a fire alarm signaling system, the; combination of a main alarm circuit including a source of current and a translating device, a fire alarm box having signaling contacts adapted for serial inclusion in said circuit, a signalingtrain for opening and closing said contacts and an eleg'tro-magnetfor controlling the starting of said signaling train, an auxiliary controlling circuit connected vas a shunt to said electro-magnet torender it inoperative and extending from said main circuit through a plurality of auxiliary stations, an indicating annunciator circuit extending serially in the form of a loop from said main circuit and tparalleling said auxiliary circuit through sai auxiliary stations, an electrically controlled annunciator device for each auxiliary station'normally shunted so as to be denergized, switch mechanism at each station normally closing the auxiliary circuit and, associated therewith, switch mechanism normally short-circuiting the corresponding annunciator device, actuation of any set of associated switch mechanisms causing opening of the auxiliary controlling circuit to release the signaling train and causing inclusion in the annunciator loop circuit of the amociated indicating device, whereby indication is giv'en'astothe point at which the; auxiliary circuit 'is opened. a

9. The combination of a main circuit including a source of current and a translating device, a signaling train controlled by an electro-magnet, an auxiliary shunt circuit for said electro-magnet, an annunciator circuit extending as a loop from said main circuit and containing a plurality-of normally shunted indicating devices, and means at a plurality of auxiliary stations whereby the shunt may be removed from the associated indicating device torender it operative and whereby the shuntfor the controlling electro-magnet may be opened to secure the operation of the signaling train.

10. In a firealarm system, the combina-. tion of a main alarm circuit, a fire alarm box connected therewith, an auxiliary local controlling circuit in closed shunt to the controlling magnet of said box, circuit con trollers in said auxiliary circuit, and annunciators corresponding thereto and adapted for operative connection with the main alarm circuit and dependent for operation energization ofsaid electromagnet, a ralt ,of' switch mechanisms for control ng starting thereof, a circuit for controlling the current, a translating device, signaling mechanism, said mechanism having an electromagnet for controlling the starting 7 thereof, a circuit normally preventing the energization of said magnet, switches in said circuit embodying means 'for enersai 'gizingsaid magnet, an annunciator circuit extending from the main circuit and associated with said switches, said annunci= ator circuit having a plurality of electro:

magnetic indicating devices and controlling.

switches therefor. Y

13. In a signaling system, the combination of a main circuit including a source ofcurrent, a translating device, signaling mecha- 'nism said mechanism having an electromagnet for controlling the starting thereof, 'a circuit normally so adjusted as to prevent energization of said electromagnet, switches n said circuit for so ad ust1ng sa1d c1rcu1t as to permit energization of said electromagnet, and an annunciator circuit'exten'ding from the main circuit and comprising a plurality of electromagneticindicating devices and controlling switches therefor associated with the electromagnet controlling switches.

14. In a signaling system, the combination of a main circuit including a source of current, a translating device, and aplurality of signaling mechanisms, eachmechanism hav ing a normally denergizedelectromagnet for controlling the starting thereof, a circuit for controlling the energization of said electromagnet, a plurality of switches for controlling said circuit, and an annunciator circult extending from theemam c rcuit and comprising a' pluralityof electromagnetic indicating devices and controlling switches Z therefor associated with the electromagnet controlling switches,

15. In-a signaling system, the combination of a main circuit including a source of ourupon that of the respective circuit con-,Jrent, a translating device, and a plurality of trollerswhich brings into operation the signal mechanism of the fire alarm box.

11. In a signaling system, the combination of a main circuit including a source of current, a translating device, signaling mechanism, said mechanism having a normally deenergized electromagnet for controlling the signaling mechanisms, each mechanism having a normally deener ed electromagnet for controllin .the startmg thereof, a circuit for contro ling the energizationof said electromagnet, circuit controllers in said circuit, and annunciators corresponding thereto, op-' eratively connected with the main circuit.

ing a normally denergized electromagnet for controlling the starting thereof, a circuit for controlling the energization of said electromagnet, circuit cont-rollers insaid circuit, and annunciators corresponding thereto and adapted to be operated by current from the main alarm circuit, each of said circuit controllers being adapted in its operation to establish connections that operate the signaling mechanism and also its corresponding annunciator.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, this 26th day of June, A. D., 1913.

CLARENCE E. BEACH.

Witnesses:

W. T. KENDALL BROWN, 0, M. CoNNER'roN. 

